A proposed student project, which is one of the entries in a social innovation programme for secondary schoolchildren, could rejuvenate dank, deserted side streets and alleyways in Hong Kong’s industrial district of Kwun Tong. The plan would bring the streets to life using shipping containers refurbished as mobile shop units offering anything from Chinese herbal tea to garment repair services. The idea is the brainchild of Form Two student Poon Tsz-yui and his schoolmates Bobby Lo Hei-chit and Tommy Wong Cheuk-Ho from United Christian College (Kowloon East). The group was one of 26 competing in the Schools Challenge Hong Kong – Live Smart @ Kowloon East, a social innovation programme for junior secondary school students. The team’s idea, called “The Movin’ Alleys”, came third in the contest. “Our team hopes that the mobile container shops can provide operators with premises at affordable rents,” Poon says. The shops, about 57 sq ft each in size, can change location from time to time, with the moves charted on a mobile app for customers. Vivian Lau Sio-kuan, one of the event judges and also CEO of Junior Achievement Asia-Pacific, an NGO focusing on youth issues, says: “We are impressed by how the ‘Movin’ Alleys’ project tackles the hygiene problem at its roots by attracting people to underused alleys.” The programme was co-organised by Junior Achievement Hong Kong and J.P. Morgan, with support from the Development Bureau’s Energizing Kowloon East Office and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Students spent four months creating innovative solutions using STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concepts for a more liveable Kowloon East. Opinion: URA has turned its back on local people in Kwun Tong redevelopment According to the Poverty Commission report released last year, Kwun Tong is one of the city’s most densely populated districts, with a large proportion of low-income residents. It was developed as one of the earliest ‘new towns’ in the 1950s, home to factories and public housing. But since deindustrialisation in the 1980s, many industrial units have been deserted. The first redevelopment initiative was announced in 1998, and relaunched in 2002 by the Urban Renewal Authority. The second place in the student contest went to a “boxing machine” created by the “League of Big Stomach” team from Leung Shek Chee College. The group came up with a machine similar to the ones in arcades that measure the power of punches, but their version uses the blows to generate energy, which can then be used to charge mobile phones. A monitor powered by a solar panel also displays energy-saving tips. Hong Kong’s old neighbourhoods get a new look as street art takes over obscene graffiti Lau says: “I like how they think outside the box to advocate energy-saving while providing entertainment for families, which really suits Hongkongers’ needs for stress relief.” Team member Susan Li Yik-shuen says: “If you punch for 10 minutes, you can charge 10 per cent of your phone battery.” The team from Po Leung Kuk Celine Ho Yam Tong College took home the crown with a water purifying system using activated carbon, which can absorb metal ions. The students proposed their system for installation on building rooftops for entire blocks. Judge Lau says: “Their prototype is quite cost-effective as the carbon comes from waste timber in Hong Kong. “It’s a painful decision to deliberate over the winners because all teams did a great job.” Left to right: Jenny Leung, Wincy Tang, Celia Yan and Susan Li of Leung Shek Chee College and their project at The Schools Challenge Hong Kong – Live Smart @ Kowloon East at The Wave in Kwun Tong. Photo: Edmond So Herbert Wong Hin-pok, a Form Two student from Y.W.C.A. Hioe Tjo Yoeng College, and who is in a team that created an underground auto-parking concept, says: “It’s quite challenging because we have quizzes and exams during the competition, but I’ve learned a lot, such as how to talk to strangers when doing research on-site.” For the past four months, each team was mentored by volunteers from banking giant J.P. Morgan and student volunteers from HKUST. Desmond Lau On-ching, one of the mentors, says: “It’s a learning journey for students, as they kept refining their ideas. “For example, one of my colleagues from London suggested that the Movin’ Alleys team use a container park there as a reference.” The history behind some iconic Hong Kong neighbourhoods, and how they’ve changed Kwun Tong district councillor Ken Wong Chi-ken – who was not involved in the competition – says he finds the student ideas interesting and some are viable. “The boxing machine would work quite well at the Kwun Tong Promenade, and the water purifying system sounds nice too.” He expresses reservations about the container shops idea, however, pointing out that the government has already revitalised some alleys into active walkways that cannot be obstructed. Given Kwun Tong is a vital transport corridor in Kowloon, Wong says the most urgent issue is traffic congestion. “We have more than 600,000 people here, but we don’t have enough roads to divert the traffic.” Resident Chan Chi-yung, a hawker who has been based in Kwun Tong for the past 50 years, says he thinks the boxing machine could be fun and educational. “There are a lot of residential blocks and public housing estates here. If there are organisations to manage these machines, they could put them in parks.”